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Clients with Chinese Drywall Issues

By Alan E. Tannenbaum

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Sarasota Herald-Tribune Article on several of Levin Tannenbaum Clients with Chinese Drywall Issues - for homeowners dealing with Chinese-made drywall, the concerns grow more urgent with the arrival of a new child.

Having a baby -- especially when it is a first child -- is enough of a challenge for most new parents. Now, a growing number are contending with an unexpected worry: Chinese drywall.

In Florida and other states, more homes are found each day that were built with Chinese-made drywall -- a material that is emitting corrosive and potentially hazardous gases. As state and federal inquiries drag on, leaving fundamental health questions unanswered, a new generation of babies are being born into a situation that leaves their parents in a dilemma.

"I just want a house I can live in," said Neil DeHenes, whose wife just gave birth to their first child, Sophie, in May. "My main concern is my daughter. Her respiratory system is just developing now. Her brain is developing. If it's causing me to get headaches and very painful sinus infections when I breathe it in, what is it doing to her?"

DeHenes and his wife left their Chinese drywall home in Riverview at their own expense just days before Sophie was born. Their builder, Tampa-based Suarez Housing Corp., has taken little action since the drywall was found in April. Now the DeHeneses have been forced to return temporarily after losing a short-term rental and are scrambling to find another furnished place to live.

"We just can't risk staying here any longer than absolutely necessary," Neil DeHenes said. "Even when we find something, I don't know how much longer we can continue to pay rent and the mortgage at the same time. We're already dipping into what's left of our savings."

No one from Suarez Homes would agree to discuss the company's use of Chinese drywall or the DeHeneses' case with the Herald-Tribune. Lisa Hower, an employee at Suarez's South Fork sales office -- visible from the DeHeneses' home -- directed questions to the corporate headquarters in Tampa. Multiple phone messages there were not returned.

In early April, Neil DeHenes was daydreaming about the adventures his first child would bring. That is when his home's air-conditioner failed. A technician determined that the copper coils were damaged. "The guy said, 'It looks like the effects of Chinese drywall,'" DeHenes said.

He contacted Suarez, but said the builder disagreed, claiming it used only American-made brands. "They said the copper in the A/C unit was from Mexico, that it was bad," DeHenes said.

Skeptical, DeHenes climbed into the attic to see if there were any markings on the exposed drywall. The stamps read, "Made in China."

Suarez then sent out an executive and other workers. They cut out drywall samples, but DeHenes later learned that Suarez had not tested the samples and would not pay to move him out.

DeHenes hired an attorney, who began sending letters to Suarez demanding action. In the meantime, the couple moved out on their own to a furnished town house in nearby Brandon.

DeHenes has had painful sinus infections for more than a year, but a series of expensive medical tests were inconclusive. His doctors previously wondered if his frequent airplane travel could be to blame. They now believe it is likely the drywall.

"If it was doing that to me, I can't take a chance on what it's doing to my daughter," he said.

Suarez has since indicated a willingness to make repairs, but executives have yet to say what exactly the company will do. The builder also wants DeHenes to sign a comprehensive waiver agreement absolving the builder of any legal liability.

Meanwhile, about 30 miles to the south, in the Lighthouse Cove neighborhood of Lennar Corp.'s Heritage Harbour development in Manatee County, another group of babies have begun moving back into homes originally built with Chinese drywall.

The wallboard has been removed from several dozen homes by the Miami-based company, one of a few builders to do so.

Lennar says the houses are now free of harmful gases, but some owners remain nervous.

Adding to that anxiety is Lennar's change of course regarding air quality tests. Multiple owners interviewed by the Herald-Tribune said Lennar promised to conduct tests before they moved back in, and then more several months later. Those tests have since been canceled.

"One of the big things was we wanted something saying everything was good and safe. We were hoping to get the air quality tests back, but when the time came we didn't get that," said Pio Rizzo, who along with his wife and their new baby recently moved back into their home on Montauk Point Crossing. "I hope it'll be OK, but there's still some worry about bringing my family back in and having a newborn here."

Rizzo considered refusing to move back in unless the tests were done, but ultimately concluded that it would only inflame the situation. He has not experienced the headaches or nosebleeds prevalent before.

Others who recently returned or who will do so soon were divided on the subject of the canceled tests. Several said they were disappointed, but did not want to rock the boat.

Others said they are happy.

"It's not an issue for me at all. I'm glad to be back in what is essentially a new house," said Carlos Cabrera, who recently moved back with his wife and 1-year-old.

Lennar said the tests were canceled after subsequent studies by its environmental consultant, Environ Corp.

Darin McMurray, Lennar's Southwest division president, said through a spokesman that Environ reached a conclusion that "no additional air quality testing is necessary once the defective drywall has been completely removed." The new policy applies to all Lennar homes statewide. McMurray said a one-year warranty Lennar has offered should provide enough assurance to owners.

The company said it has stopped telling affected owners they would receive the post-construction tests, but no exceptions have been made for those previously told otherwise.

Air quality testing can be difficult and yield inconsistent results. Environ's own tests have been criticized by state and federal health officials. Its report made public earlier this year, which concluded there was no health risk associated with drywall gases, resulted in data that Florida's state toxicologist, Dr. David Krause, called "inadequate," prompting the state to push for more expansive testing.

Meanwhile, owners like Neil DeHenes, with the Suarez home in Riverview, would be glad to see his builder deal with the problem.

"I really don't know what to do anymore," he said. "This wasn't how I pictured we'd be having our first baby."

Toxic Chinese Drywall: It Stinks in More Ways Than OneFort Meyers, FL: You've got to be kidding. Drywall, now. Chinese drywall, that was used during the South Florida building boom starting in 2004 and is now making some people sick. Toxic drywall has been found in many homes, and Chinese drywall problems are affecting copper plumbing and air conditioning coils.

Chinese Drywall: A Builder's PerspectiveWest Palm Beach, FL: "Throughout my 30-year career as a builder I have installed over 300,000 sheets of drywall and we have never come across anything like this Chinese drywall," says John George of majestichomesonline...

Norfolk, Virginia Bans Use of Chinese DrywallAfter a unanimous vote of 8-0 at this past Tuesday?s City Council meeting, it is now illegal to use Chinese drywall when building or renovating in Norfolk, Virginia. Contractors are now required to certify that they will not use Chinese drywall in any future construction projects...

Chinese Drywall Class Actions Consolidated in New OrleansTampa, FL: Even though the Chinese drywall debacle is centered largely in Florida, the legal eagles involved in several China drywall class action lawsuits will be heading to the Big Easy in order to litigate Chinese drywall problems.

Expert Witness Says Chinese Drywall is SpreadingLockhart, TX: According to Home Inspector Oran Venable, Chinese drywall is showing up in Texas as well as Florida and Lousiana. "I'm seeing homes with Chinese drywall in Austin, Dallas and further east that were built around the same time that contaminated drywall hit US shores," says Venable.

Home 'Stink' Home with Defective Chinese DrywallParkland, FL: Months after toxic Chinese drywall began making people sick and chasing them from their homes, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has gotten into the act and has actively tested two homes containing defective Chinese drywall for Chinese drywall damage.